Alternatives to Beauty Salon and Spa Treatments

Find out how you can get professional-level results at home with these skin care tips

Light Therapy (average spa cost: $1,000 for eight sessions) You may have heard of (or even tried) light therapy at a spa to treat acne. Blue light promises to kill bacteria and help reduce blemishes, while red light aims to fade acne scarring and fine lines. These same light treatments can be done at home with ANSR: BEAM, $185, which has both blue and red lights and complementary skin care products.

Red light therapy can also be used to combat aging. Tanda has light therapy treatments for acne and anti-aging. The company claims the treatment improves skin texture, color and tone while diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. N.V. Perricone Light Renewal, $335 also helps with skin tone and texture, especially around the eye area.

These are some very nice alternatives to pricey spa and doctor visits. You can also exercise your face, neck, and mouth on your own to improve the tone, reduce wrinkles, and plump your pout (simple "Google" for exercises).

I agree that many services, epically peels at a salon, but, I have seen too many problems. Many clients think more means better. Some of these products should not be used too often, and I have found some clients over use these products and end up hurting the skin. I have one client, she insists that she should exfoliate daily. She is not a young person, and her chin is very dry at times, and you can see the verticals lines. I would ask her how many times are you exfoliating...oh last night and today, my face felt oily...
If that is what exfoliating does, imagine some of these people with home peels...I see it.
I understand many people can do it and can limit themselves, but, many companies promote the safety and really do not emphasize the problems that can occur.
PLEASE...just follow up with a skin care professional; you can even contact me for some advice, rather safe then sorry!!